International Journal of Environmental Protection Nov. 2013, Vol. 3 Iss. 11, PP. 23-28 - 23 - Low Cost Wastewater Treatment at Beverage Industry, Hattar Industrial Estate, Pakistan - A Case Study Rahib Hussain *1 , Shehla Sattar 1 , Muhammad Haya Khan 2 , Muhammad Nafees 2 1 National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan 2 Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Pakistan *1 rahibpcr@gmail.com Abstract- The objective of this study was to investigate the potential for reducing freshwater consumption through recycling, low cost wastewater treatment and beneficial use of sludge of beverage industry at Hattar industrial estate (HIE), Haripur, Pakistan, under the concept of clean technology and water recycling. Samples were collected from end of pipe and analyzed for various physico- chemical parameters such as flow rate, temperature, conductivity, odor, chloride, sulfate, sodium and calcium which were found below the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQs), while pH, color, turbidity, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were found above the NEQs level. The treatment techniques comprised of sedimentation, coagulation and adsorption, were designed for those parameters which were beyond the Pak-NEQs. The optimum doses of coagulants were 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 ml/l with 5:1 ml alkalinity were identified and removed significant amount of pollution loads. After treatment, the achieved sludge was processed for identification of organic and inorganic contents in terms of their beneficial purposes. The treated water was used for Agriculture, municipal and in industry such as washing of carats, bottles and floor, cooling and other minor activities within the premises of industry. Keywords- Cleaner Production; Coagulation; Hattar Industrial Estate; Industrial Wastewater; Pollution Loads; Treatment I. INTRODUCTION In both developed and developing countries the industrial activities have caused huge amount of untreated wastewater to carelessly release into freshwater streams. In Gulf regions, 80% of industrial effluents were directly discharged into rivers through various media [1]. In the past rivers were the safe sites for waste disposal, especially industrial effluents in Nigeria and other developing countries [2, 3]. As there is an increase in industrial activities, the pollution stress was developed on the water bodies [4, 5], and resultant environmental and health problems rose in great extent [6]. In many African states, there is a rapid increase in population, urbanization and industrialization which has altered aquatic diversity due to discharge of pollutant to water bodies [7]. Tolba (1982) stated that presence of high organic pollutant in African water bodies due to extreme poverty, low water sanitation system with respect to developed countries [8]. The beverage industries were pin pointed as major consumers of water and became economic source in the world [9, 10]. But the industrial activities without adequate treatment facilities have led to discharge of wastewater into water bodies [11, 12]. The wastewater generation and management in beverages industries become a serious threat to freshwater bodies, aquatic biota and human health [13]. The continuous discharge of effluents into streams and rivers raises the level of trace and toxic metals, which have considerably adverse effect on fresh water bodies [14, 15]. In the last decade, Pakistan entered into industrial race and reported 70% increases per year. But due to lack of management plan, resources and poor enforcement authority cannot achieve their goals [15]. In Pakistan beverage industries play an important role in country economy, with an annual production of 23 liter/person/year [16]. Hattar industrial estate is comprised of a large number of industrial units and has a significant role in the country’s economy. But this exposure of industrial estate has adverse impacts on the ecological system [17, 18]. The food and beverage have high demand for freshwater and as a result a huge amount of wastewater (contaminated with toxic and trace metals) generated and released to environment. No systematic work has been carried out on the wastewater of food and beverage industries in the light of clean technology. Therefore, the goal of this study was to assess the pollution loads on daily basis and their treatment in Hattar industrial estate Haripur, Pakistan. II. METHODOLOGY A. Field Survey Field survey was conducted in summer season (2013) at Hattar Industrial Estate, Haripur, which is 51 km from Islamabad (Capital of Pakistan). The survey was conducted in terms of selection of samples sites, location of end-of-pipe and was to identify the source and extent of pollutants as shown in Fig. 1. To get one accurate and representative wastewater sample, a composite sample technique was followed with uniform two-hour interval from single point released by food and beverage industry HIE [19, 20].